Thomas Friedman drives some people crazy because he coins vivid images to explain complex issues. I love it. In the world at large, there's no dearth of obtuse and confusing explanations of how stuff works. Friedman cuts through that verbiage with strong, clear language.

That's one of the reasons that his talk on Thursday night at the Warnors Theater -- a fundraising lecture for science programs at the Fresno Metropolitan Museum -- was so effective.

One of the phrases that Friedman coined is what he calls an "Americon." That's a unit of measurement, he says, that is the equivalent of 300 million Americans living like, well, Americans -- consuming lots of energy, living in big houses, driving big cars. The problem is that the world has too many "Americons." Decades ago, there used to be approximately two: the U.S. itself, plus Western Europe and Japan. Today there are NINE "Americons" -- or nine times 300 million people -- living in the world, including Russia, China and India. Sure, a major problem in the world is overpopulation. But to be crass about it, an even bigger problem is that so many more people are expecting an American standard of living.

BIG SHOW: The publicity machine for Drum Corps International doesn't really rev up for local newspapers, so I learned late about tonight's 2009 Drum Corps International Tour stop at Buchanan High School Stadium. But it sounds like a top-notch event. Such world-class groups as the Blue Devils from Concord, the Bluecoats from Canton, Ohio, the Blue Knights from Denver and the Santa Clara Vanguard will participate. The competition starts at 7 p.m.

I caught a version of this tour a couple of years ago when it came to Clovis and blogged about it on the Beehive. It's a really good show.

SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK: I can't make the Drum Corps show tonight, however, because I'll be at "As You Like It," the first offering in the summer season of Woodward Shakespeare Festival. Director Michael Peterson is setting this "pastoral comedy" in the Summer of Love at the beach. You can read my Bee interview with him here.

A JUMP ON THE FOURTH: If you're in a patriotic mood, don't miss the Big Red, White & Blue Celebration 5 p.m. Saturday at the First Congregational Church. (It's known as "The Big Red Church," hence the name of the event.) Pre-concert festivities include a barbecue, silent auction, concert and ice cream social. On the program are patriotic songs and marches performed by the Chancel Choir of First Congregational, the Fresno Gay Men's Chorus and Scott Horton on the Casavant Pipe Organ.

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Looking for other things to do? Check out the 7 Things to Do list in Friday's issue of 7 and The Bee's online calendar.

TO: the Channel 30 news staff
FROM: Mike Oz's loyal minions at the Beehive
RE: the regrettable case of amnesia that appears to have struck someone at your station

Hey, Channel 30 folks, we're quite concerned over here on E Street about the neurological condition of your fine correspondent DeShaunta Bullock, who managed to file an entire report about the Red Zone Sports Grill offensive-gay-comment controversy without once mentioning the Beehive or Mike Oz, who was the guy who started the whole thing.

Just to be clear here: Mike heard the ad on the radio. It ticked him off. He wrote a blog post. Readers started commenting. More readers commented. A groundswell of opposition arose. A local group, SAFE (Straight Advocates for Equality), got in on the act. Within a day, the restaurant was revising the ad and posting an apology on its Web site.

Curiously, however, the Channel 30 report -- which ran SECOND on the 6 p.m. Thursday newscast, right after Michael Jackson, and included one of those exciting "live from the newsroom!" intros -- didn't mention the Beehive at all!

This is a BIG weekend for quilting fans. The Heart Of California Quilters' Guild is sponsoring its biannual quilt show, "A Harvest of Quilts," Saturday and Sunday in Madera. I have an interview with the Guild's Virginia Whistler in the Friday 7 section. Here's an extended version:

Question: What are the largest quilts that are on display?

Answer: There will be king-size quilts up to 116" by 116", down to miniature quilts that could measure less that 20" by 20".

How many? What are some of the varieties that people can see?

There will be 125 quilts on display, along with an additional 25 quilts made by our featured quilter. Her quilts will be displayed on our stage. Also, many of our vendors will have quilts in their booths for display. Many times, you can buy patterns from these venders to make the individual quilts that you have seen. There will be a large variety of quilts. Many traditional quilts have been made, along with more contemporary quilts. There will be landscapes quilts, challenge quilts, baby quilts, and holiday quilts.

Pictured: A work from featured quilter Elaine Holiday